Telegraph photo by ADAM URQUHART Vietnam War veteran Kurt Cameron on Thursday stands in front of Nashua’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial monument, located near the two baseball fields on Ledge Street, to read the names engraved on it.

NASHUA – When Vietnam War veteran Kurt Cameron learned of an initiative Nashua city officials are implementing to honor warfighters, he immediately wanted to get involved.

City leaders are partnering with militarytributebanners.org for the first time to display dozens of different banners in 2020 to honor local veterans. These large banners will hang along the Broad Street Parkway from Memorial Day through Veterans Day in 2020.

On Thursday, Cameron began his effort to raise $3,000 to honor the 18 Nashua natives who died in the Vietnam War.

“I’ve chosen to raise the money on my own,” Cameron said. “The biggest problem I’m going to have is to find the families in Nashua of these fallen heroes because we need pictures and we need to have the families here when we do it. I would love that.”

Cameron, of Nashua, said he served two tours in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1971, reaching the rank of specialist.

Cameron said he has been struggling to reach family members of Nashua’s Vietnam War veterans. He hopes to find those families to get pictures of their loved ones and to make sure they are present when the banners go up on the parkway.

If anyone knows a family member of any of the 18 heroes who lost their lives during the Vietnam War, they are asked to contact Cameron from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 603-913-3860. He can also be reached via email at cmkurtdeb@comcast.net.

“I’ve seen a lot in Vietnam and I wanted to do something for the Vietnam veterans in this city,” Cameron said.

As part of his fundraising efforts, Cameron printed flyers and began posting them in various locations. Cameron has also arranged for for some drop-off locations for those who wish to donate:

• Chuck’s Barber Shop at 115 Main St. and

• Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 352 Amherst St.

“It’s exciting to have interest like this,” Nashua Division of Public Works spokeswoman Lauren Byers said. “We’re thrilled that the community is so excited about the program.”

Byers said that as of Thursday morning, 10 families had come forward to make sure a banner is raised in memory of their loved one. There is still room available for more banners, in addition to Cameron’s 18, and the 10 already assigned. In total, Byers expects there to be a total of 36 banners. The banners are scheduled to hang from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.

After Veterans Day, the families who sponsor a banner will be able to retrieve it for keeping.

Those interested in sponsoring a banner may do so at, https://militarytributebanners.org/, while selecting the Nashua option.

Banners will cost $165, and the program is giving first priority to past and current Nashuans, followed by past and current Hillsborough County residents. If there are spots available, the program will then open up to any past and current New Hampshire resident. The submission deadline is April 24.

Meanwhile, Cameron is focused on trying to contact the families. If pictures are not available for some of the 18 Vietnam veterans, they can still be honored with their names and information with a flag background, based on their branch of service.

“We’re going to have a little ceremony when we first put them up and invite everyone to take a walk along that sidewalk and see everything,” Byers said.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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